Pipe unscrewing tool



July 18, 1933. R. A. PHILLIPS PIPE UNSCREWING TOOL Filed NOV. 25, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l 7/ J76 W w 97 9. 9. /5

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W AVTTOKNEK July 18, 1933. R. A. PHlLLl PS 1,918,663

PIPE UNSCREWING TOOL Filed Nov. 25, 1932 5- Sheets-$heet 2 Ra 40/: A. Fwy

ATrO EK y 18, 1933. R. A. PHILLIPS PIPE UNSCREWING TOOL Filed Nov. 25, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 [A/ new 70/2 RQ/p/I A. Pfi/W/ps,

/) TTOK/VEK which has been lost in the well.

As an example of the utility of my invention, the following may be cited. In the drilling of a well by the rotary rhethochthe lower portion of the drill pipe, or the entire Patented July 18, 1933 RALPH A. PHILLIF S, OF TORRANCE, CALIFORNIA PIPE UNSGREWING TOOL Application filed November 25, 1932. Serial No. 644,206.

' lily inventionrelates to a pipe disc-rowing iooi and is of especial utility 111 unscrewing and removing irom a well portions of a pipe pipe, may become secured or lost in the l, theremovalthereof being prevented by HE; conditions, such settlings from the lling; mud and the hardenng of drilling mud thcrca round when circulation is stopped.

"ore the drilling of. the well can be con- '1 ued. it is necessary to remove the lost drill pipe hy the operation commonly known as fi ing in which operation the fish consists 5g of drill pipe and drill bit lost in A customary practice is to wash aid upper portion of the fish, out off portion by use of an overshot cutcl. and lifting the cut-off portion.

h s ope ation repeated until the entire 1e bit are removet i -.:other method of fishing is to lower a up on the lower end of a string of left-hand iii-ill pipe, and by insertion of the tap in the r pper end of the fish tounscrew a portion of the l y rotating "the drill pipe in leftd ection. In view of the fact that st lard drillpipe is made up of right-hand th (is. the use of a left-hand tap requires th complete string of left-hand threaded .diml pipe be obtained, which is generally expensive and causes considerable delay.

My iiwention comprehends a fish unscrewin devic which may be used on the lower cud of s Q rigl'it-hand drill pipe, and is d that it will unscrew right- .uied joints of a. fish. Lfcnlarly important feature of my inis the provision therein of means 3 to grip the exterior of a pipe in two and reversing gear mechanism for f thergripping means to rotate in sit!) directions. The gripping means are over the pipe to a point remote from or end thereof, and the gripping o then set in positions straddling a yoint in the pipe, whereupon actuation of the gears rotates the gripping means in opposite directions so as to unscrew the pipe, at which time the lower gripping means may be released and the unscrewed or upper portion of the pipe lifted with the unscrewin g sary to first use a washover pipe, withdraw" the washover pipe, and then insert the uni screwing device.

It is a further object of the invention a provide in such a device lower gripping means which automatically release when the pipe unscrewing device is lifted so that the lower portion of the fish will be readily disengaged, and upper gripping means which: may be retained in gripping position during the raising of the unscrewing device so asto lift the unscrewed portion of the fish from the well. x i

A further object of the invention is to provide a simple combination of parts which will cooperate in forming a device having the characteristics above set forth.

Further objects and'advantages of the invention will be made evident throughout the following part of the specification.

Referring to the drawings, which are for ilustrative purposes only,

Fig. 1 is a vertically sectioned view showing the upper end of my pipe unscrewing de vice.

Fig. 2 is a vertically sectioned view sl10wing the central portion of my pipe imscrewing device.

Fig. 3 is a vertically sectioned view showing the lower end of my pipe unscrewing de vice.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross section on a planerepresented by the line 4- l of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged cross section on a plane represented by the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

reverse gear 24. reverse gears 21 and 24 are a plurality of elongated spur gears 25 which cooperate to Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross section ona plane represented by the line 66 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross section on a plane represented by the line 77 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross section taken as indicated by the line 8 8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged cross section on a plane represented by the line 99 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing the upper gripping means.

As shown in the lower part ofFig. 1 and the upper part of Fig 2, my unscrewing device employs an upper cylindrical shell adapted to be secured by right-hand threads 16 to the lower end of a supporting pipe 17, which supporting pipe forms the lower end of a supporting and actuating string of pipe 18 which extends to the top of the well and is supported by a swivel and traveling block mechanism of the customary type. Near the lower end. of the shell 15 inwardly facing gear teeth 20 are formed, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5. The gear teelh 20 form a driving gear'21. Extending within the lower end of the shell 15 is an inner cylinder 22 having outwardly projecting gear teeth 23 near the upper end thereof which are of the same pitch and face as the gear teeth 20 forming the driving gear 21. The gear teeth 23 form a Between the driving and form a forward gear 26. The spur gears 25 are secured in a frame 27 having cylindrical openings 28 cut vertically therein to receive the spur gears 25. The lower ends of the spur gears 25 have downwardly projecting trunnions 30 which project into openings 31 formed in the lower cylindrical wall 32 of the frame 27, and the upper ends-of the spur gears 25 have upwardly projecting trunnions 33 which project into openings 34 in a ring 35 which is secured to the upper ends of the bars 36 between the openings 28 of the frame 27', the external diameter of the ring 35 being such that it will slide through the driving gear 21 in assembling the parts of the pipe unscrewing device. The frame 27 is held in operative position within the lower end of the shell 15 by a threaded ring 37 having threads which engage threads 38 formed within the lower end. of the shell 15. The inner cylinder 22 has a diametrally enlarged lower portion 40, and a shoulder 41 is formed at the upper end thereof, which shoulder abuts the lower end 42 of the frame 27, this shoulder preventing upward movement of the inner cylinder 22 relative to the frame 27. Downward movement of the inn er cylinder 22 relative to theframe 27 is prevented by a ring 43 which threads onto the upper end 44 of the inner cylinder 22 and abuts the upper face of the ring 35. In the upper portion of the cylindrical member 15 is a means 45 consisting of a cylindrical body 46 having an inwardly projecting flange 47 having downwardly projecting lugs 48, as shown in Fig. 4, for engaging notches 49 formed in the upper end of the inner cylinder 22. Also, in the lower end of the member 46 are peripheral notches 50 with shoulders 51 at the ends thereof adapted to engage lugs 52 which project inwardly from the wall of the upper cylindrical shell 15. In the intermediate portion of the wall of the cylindrical body 46 is a horizontal slot 53 having a vertical slot 54 leading downwardly from the leftward end thereof. From the cylindrical. shell 15 a. pin 55 extends inwardly into the slot 53 or the slot 54 depending upon the relative positions of the members 15 and 46. On the upper end 56 of the member 46 means are provided for frictionlly engaging the surface of a fish 57 consisting of pipe sections 58, 59, and 60 joined together by couplings 61 and 62. The frictional engaging means consists preferably of how springs 64, the lower ends of which are secured .o the upper end 56 of the member 46 by screws or rivets 65 and the upper ends of which are secured by screws or rivets 66 to a vertically slidable ring 63. lVhen the pipe unscrewing device is moving downwardly over the fish, the engagement of the bow springs 64 with the fish tends o raise the locking means 45 so as to disen gage the lugs from the notches 49 in the upper end of the inner cylindrcial member 22, but this upward movement of the locking device is prevented by engagement of the pin 55 with the horizontal slot 53 which engagement is maintained as long as the cylindrical shell 15 is not rotated in left-hand direction so as to move the pin 55 over into the upper end of the vertical slot 54.

In the inner face of the diametrally enlarged lower portion 40 of the cylindrical member 22 are a plurality of vertical chan nels 67 which converge upwardly, and at the upper ends of which, as shown in Fig. 7, are laterally extending arcuate channels 68 which spiral inwardly as they progress rightwardly. In the vertical channels 67 jaws 70 are slidably disposed, tl ese jaws being prevented from sliding downwardly from the lower ends of the channels 67 by a cylindrical extension 71 for the lower end portion 40,

which extension 71 makes threaded engagement at 72 with the lower end of the portion 40. Within the extension 71 and projecting above the upper end thereof is a sleeve 73 comprising an actuating means for the jaws 70. The upper end of the sleeve 73 has openings 74 through which the outer portions of the jaws 7 0 project, and secured on the inner face of the sleeve 73 are bow springs 75 adapted to engage the exterior of the fish 57. A pin 76 is mounted in the extension 71 and projects inwardly so as to engage an upper horizontal slot 77 in the sleeve 73, a vertical slot 78 extending downwardly from the leftward end of the slot 77 or a lower horizontal slot 79 which extends leftwardly from the lower-Mend of the vertical slot 78. The lower ends 81 of the bow springs 75 are slidably received in grooves 82 formed vertically in the lower end of the sleeve 73.

lVhen the pin 76 rests in the upper hori zontal slot 77, the jaws are held in the lower ends of the vertical channels 67, and as long as the extension 71 it not rotated leftwardly relative to the sleeve 73, this engagement of the pin 76 with the slot 77 will e maintained. By rotating the extension 71 leftwardly a short distance relative to the sleeve 73, the pin 76 will be carried into the upper end of the vertical slot 78 so that frictional engagement of the bow springs with the fish 57 will cause the sleeve 73 to move upwardly relative to the extension 71 and thus carry the jaws 70 upwardly in the channels 67. From Figs. 7 and 10 it will be perceived that the openings 74; through which the jaws 70 project are wider than the. jaws so as to permit a suflicient relative rotation between the sleeve 73 and the jaws 70 to allow disengagement. of the pin 76 from the horizontal slot 77.

shown in Figs. 2 and 6, the exterior of the lower portion 32 of the frame 27 has vertical splines 84, the lower ends of these splines being stopped by a ring which threads onto the lower extremity 42 of the wall 32. A collar 86 having an inwardly turned flange 87 provided with lugs 88 which slide in the splines 84. A spring 90 is compressed between the lower face of the ring 37.and the upperface of the collar 86. Threaded into the collar 86 at 91 and projecting downwardly therefrom is a lower cylindrical member 92 which is of a length. slightly greater than a single length of pipe 58, 59, or 60 constituting the string of pipe 57, or fish. Secured to the lower end of the lower cylindrical member 92 by interengagingthreads 93 is a body 94 having upwardly converging jaw-ways 95 therein adapted to slidably receive aw members 96 which have recesses 97 in the upper ends thereof into which the lower ends of bars 98 extend to engage pins 100 which in turn extend across the recesses 97, as shown in Fig. 9. The'upper ends of the bars 98 are pivotally connected to pins 102 supported in a ring 103 which is verti- 1 cally slidable in the lower end of the lower cylindrical member 92. An inwardly turned lip or flange 1041 at the upper edge of the ring 103 is engaged by clips 105 which are secured by screws 106 to the lower end of a sleeve 107 which. is also slidable in the lower cylindrical member 92. Frictional means for engaging the string of pipe 57 is provided in the form of bow springs 108, the lower ends of which are secured by screws or rivets 109 to the upper end of the sleeve 107, and

gether. shell 15, an assembly of pipe 17 of sufiicient the upper ends of which are secured by screws or rivets 111 to a ring 112 which is vertically slidable within the lower cylindrical member 92. A pin 113 projects fromthe lower cylindrical wall 92into ahorizontal slot 114 which has a substantially vertical slot 115 projecting downwardly from its leftward will move upwardly and downwardly in unison. 'The ring 103 andthe sleeve 107 are, however, relatively rotatable so that rotation of the sleeve 107 relative to the lower cylindrical member 92 in order to move the pin 113 in the slot 114 will not rotate the ring 103. The lower end of the body 94 has inwardly and upwardly sloping approaches 120.

for guiding the upper end of the fish into the pipe unscrewing tool when the pipe unscrewing tool is initially lowered into engagement with the fish. r

The method of operation of. my device is substantially follows. With the parts theree-f originally set in the positions in which they are shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the unscrewing device is supported by means of the supporting and actuating string 18 consisting of lengths of pipe coupled to- Immediately above the cylindrical size to receive theupper end of the fish 57 is employed so that the unscrewing device may be lowered a desired distance down wardly over the upper portion of the fish 57, i such as two hundred to five hundred feet.

During the lowering of the unscrewing device over the fish, wash-water is forced downwardly through the supporting string 18 and through the cylindrical structure formed by the component parts of the unscrewing device, and during this time the supporting vice are rotated in right-hand direction, the result being that the sand or hardened mud surrounding the fish 57 is washed out ahead of the unscrewing device. When the desired position of overlap is reached, the downward and right-hand movement of the unscrewing device is stopped, and the unscrewing device is then rotated several turns in left-hand or anti-clockwise direction. This produces a movement of the pins 55, 76, and 113 to the leftward ends of the respective horizontal slots 53,77, and 114. The unscrewing device is then lowered so that the pins 53, 76, and 113 will move downwardly in the vertical slots 54,78, and 115 while the members is, 73, and 107 tend to remain stationary on the fish 57 by reason of the frictional engagement of the fish 57 by the '4' the sleeve 107 inter-engage string 18 and the unscrewing de-v bow springs 64, 75, and 108. lhe relative upwardfimovement of the members 46, 7 3, and

107 results in, first, the disengagement of the locking means resulting from the lifting of the dogs orlugs 4L8 from the notches l9, second, the movement of the jaw memhers 96 into raised position in the jaw-ways 95 so as to grip the pipe 60, and third, movement of the jaws 7 0 to the upper ends of 1 the channels 67. The lower gripping means the inwardly. spiralled, arcuate channels 68 at the upper ends of the channels 67 are rotated leftwardly relative to the jaws 70' which are frictionally held inst rotation by the engagement of the bow springs with the pipe 59, the jaws 70 thus being forced inwardly into gripping engagement with the pipe 59. During the relative leftward movement of the inwardly spiralled channels 68, the pin 77 travels leftwardly in the horizontal slot 79 at the lower end of the vertical slot 78.

As previously herein stated, the jaws 70 and the jaw members 96 are separated distance greater than the length of a single piece 1 of pipe employed in the makeup of the fish 57; therefore, these sets of jaw members will always straddle one of the couplings, such 62, securing two consecutive pipes, such as *59 and 60, and the fish 57 together. By transmitting a right-hand rotational force through the supporting string 18 to the driving gear 21, a right-hand force is exerted on the pipe 60 and that portion of the fish 57 which extends downwardly therefrom, and a left-hand reaction is applied through the reverse gear 24 and the parts by which the reverse gear is connected to the jaws 70 to the pipe 59. Owing tothe fact that the pipe 60 and the lower portion of the fish extending downwardly therefrom are frozen in the well, this pipe 60 will not rotate, with the result that the frame 27 will remain stationary and the spur gears 25 will rotate on stationary axes when the driving gear 21 is rotating in right-hand direction and will accordingly transmit left-hand rotation to the reverse gear 24 with the result that the threaded joint formed by thecoupling 62 will be unscrewed. During this time the spring is undercompression due to the downward force exerted thereon by the shell 15. As the threaded joint formed by the coupling 62 is unscrewed, the shell 15 will gradually lift, but the spring 90 will continue to exert a downward force on the lower cylindrical member 92 to supplement the weight of the member 92 in holding'the jaw members 96 in tight engagement with the pipe 60. VVhen-the joint has been unscrewed, the unscrewing device may be lifted, with the result that the jaw members 96 will slide relatively downwardly in the jaw-ways 95 and become disengaged from the pipe 60. The jaws 70 cannot be disengaged by simple upward movement of the lower portion 10 for the reason that they are seated in the arcuate channels 68; therefore, the portion of the fish including and extending upwardly from the pipe 59 will be raised by the run screwing device to the top of the well. Should an attempt to unscrew a joint in the fish 57 be unsuccessful, the jaws 7 0 may be released by rotating the shell 15 in left-hand direction so as to produce a right-hand rotation of the inwardly spiralled channels 68, thereby bringing the jaws 70 into coincidence with the upper ends of the vertical channels 67, whereupon an upward movement of the un 'ewing device willcause a relative downward movement of the jaws 70 and the jaw members 96 in the respective channels and ways 67 and 95. This upward movement also causes a relative downward movement of the sleeve l5 in a direction to co-engage the ln 41. 8 and the notches 19, and when this IS accomplished, right-hand rotation of the shell 15 will produce right-hand rotation of the inner cylindrical member 22 and the lower cylindrical member 92 to cause the pins 55, 76, and 113 to move rightwardly in the respective slots 53, 77 and 114, thus resetting the device so that it can be moved to another position on the fish.

Although I have herein shown and described my invention in simple and practical form,.it is recognized thatcertain parts or elements thereof are representative of other parts, elements, or mechanisms which may be used in substantially the same manner to accomplish substantiallythe same results; therefore, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the details disclosed herein but is to be accorded the full scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention:

I 1. A pipe unscrewing device of the character described for use on a string of pipe coi'isisting of separate pipes secured together by threaded joints, including: a tubular structure adapted to pass over said string of pipe, said structure having upper and lower en gaging means for. engaging said string of pipe respectively above and below a threaded joint thereof, and actuating means for turning said upper and lower engaging means in opposite directions; and. a supporting member extending from said actuating means.

2. A pipe unscrewing device of the character described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured together means for turning said upper and lower en gaging means in opposite directions; and a supporting member extending from said actuating means.

3. A pipe unscrewing device of the character described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured together by threaded joints, including a tubular structure adapted to pass over said string of pipe, said structure having upper and lower ongaging means for externally: engaging said string of pipe respectively above and below a threaded j oint'thereof, and actuating means for turning said upper and lower engaging means in opposite directions, said actuating means consisting essentially of a driving gear, a forward gear, and a reverse gear; and supporting and driving incansextendingfrom said driving gear.

4. A pipe unscrewing deviceof the character described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes scoured together by threaded joints, including: a tubular structure adapted to pass over said string of pipe, said structure having upper and lower engaging means spaced apart a distance greater than the length of one pipe in said string of pipe, for externally engaging said string of pipe respectively above and below a threaded joint thereof, and actuating means for turning said upper and lower engaging means in opposite directions; and a supporting mem-,

ber extending from said actuating means.

5. A pipe unscrewingdevice of the character described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured together by threaded joints, including: a tubular structure adapted to be lowered over the upper end of a string of pipe in a well to a point below said upper end thereof, said structure having upper and lower engaging means for externally engaging said string of pipe respectively above and below a threaded oint thereof, and actuating means for turning said upper and lower engaging means in opposite directions; anda: supporting member extending from said actuating means.

6. A pipe unscrewing device of the character descr bed for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured tonether by means of threaded joints, including: a structure adapted to be lowered over said string of pipe to a position below the lower end thereof, said structure comprising a driving gear, a forward gear andv a reverse gear, a lower pipe gripping means connected to said forward gear, an upper pipe gripping means connected to said reverse gear and adapted to engage the exterior of said string of pipe at a point below the upper end thereof, and means for actuating said pipe gripping means; and a supporting member extending upwardly from said driving gear, the lower end of said supportingmember be- "ing large enough to receive the portion of said string of pipe which projects upwardly through said structure.

l. A pipe unscrewing device of the character described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured together by means of threaded joints, including: a structure adapted to be lowered over said string of pipe to a position below the lower crd thereof, said structure comprising a driving gear, a forward gear and a reverse gear. a lower pipe gripping means connected to said forward gear, an upper'pipe gripping means connected to said reverse gear and adapted to engage the exterior of said string of pipe at a po nt below the upper end thereof, releasable means for preventing relative rotation of said gripping means, and means for actuating said pipe gripping means; and a supporting member extending upwardly from said driving gear, the lower end of said supporting member being large enough to rece ve theportion of said string of pipe which projects upwardly through said structure. a

8. A pipe unscrewing device of the character described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured together by means of threaded joints, including: a structure adapted to be lowered over said string of pipe to a position below the lower end thereof, said structure comprising a driving gear, a forward gear and a reverse gear, a lower pipe gripping means connected to said forward gear, an upper pipe gripping means connected to said reverse gear and adapted to engage the exterior of said string of pipe at a. point below the upper end thereof, releasable means for locking said gears, and means for actuating said P1136 gripping means; and a supporting member extending upwardly from said driving gear, the lower end of said supporting member being large enough. to receive the portion of said string of pipe which pro ects upwardly through said structure.

9. A pipeunscrewing device of the Char acter described for use on a string of pipe consisting ofseparate pipes secured together by means ofthreaded joints, including: a structure adapted to be lowered over said string of pipe to a position below the lower end thereof, said structure comprlsing a driving gear, a forward gear and a reverse gear, a lower pipe gripping means connected to said forward gear, an upper pipe gripping.

means connected to said reverse gear and adapted to engage the exterior of said string of pipe at a point below the upper end thereof, lower actuating means for sa1d lower pipe; and asupporting-member extending upwardly from said driving gear, the lower end of sa1d supporting member being large enough to receive the portion of said string of pipe which projects upwardly through said structure. 1 1

, 10. A pipe unscrewing device of the character-described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured together by means of threaded joints, including: a structure adapted to be lowered over said string of pipe to a position below the lower end thereof, said structure comprising a driving gear, a forward gear and a reverse gear,

a-lower pipe gripping means connected to said forward gear, an upper pipe gripping means connected to said reverse gear and adapted to engage the exterior of said string of pipe at apoint below the upper end thereof, releasable means for locking said gears,

lower actuating means for said lower pipe gripping means adapted to automatically release said lower gripping means when moved upwardly relative to said string of pipe, and upper actuating means for said upper gripping means adapted to release said upper gripping means when given a reverse rotary movement relative to said string of pipe; and a supporting member extending upwardly from said driving gear, the lower end of said supporting member being large enough to receive the portion of said string of pipe which projects upwardly through said structure.

11. A pipe unscrewing device ofthe' character described for use, on a string of pipe consisting of separate pipes secured together by means of threaded joints, including: a structureadapted to be lowered over said string of pipe to a position below the lower end thereof, said. structure comprising a driving gear, a forward gear and a reverse gear,

stringof pipe, lower actuating means for said string of pipe, and upper actuating means foitv saidupper gripping means adapted to release said upper gripping means when given a reverse rotary movement relative to said strin of pipe; and a supporting member e tending upwardly from said driving gear, the lower end of said supporting member being large enough to receive the portion of said string of pipe which projects upwardly through said structure.

j 12. A pipe unscrewing device of the char-' acter described for use on a string of pipe consisting of separate pip-es secured together by means of threaded joints, including: an upper shell member having a driving gear therein; a forward. gear engaging said driving gear; a frame for supporting said forward-gear, said frame being rotatably secured to said shell member; an inner cylindrical member in said frame having jaw-channels formed therein, each of said jaw-channels consisting of a substantially vertical portion with an inwardly spiralled portion at the upper end thereof; upper jaws in said jaw-channels; actuating means for moving said upper jaws in said j aw-channels having frictional engagement with they portion of said string of pipe extended through said inner cylindrical member, said actuatirw' means having locking means releasable in response to a prescribed relative rotation for holding saidactuating means in lowered position; a reverse gear on said inner cylindrical member and engaging said forward gear; a

lower cylindrical member extending downwardly from said frameand having upwardly and inwardly sloping jaw-ways near the lower endthereof; jaw members in said j awways; control means for moving said jaw members in said jaw-ways, said control means frictionally engaging said string of pipe and being provided with locking means releasable in response to a prescribed rotation of said, control means relative to said lower cylindrical member, for holding said control-means and said jaw members in lowered position: and means in said upper shell member for locking said gears against rotation, said means having frictional engagement with said string of pipe for its actuation and having locking means releasable in response to a prescribed rotation relative to said upper shell member for holding said locking means in locking position.

RALPH A. PHILLIPS 

